语法 · HSK 2–3
How to express duration in Chinese (学了两年)
In Chinese, how long an action lasts goes after the verb: 我等了半个小时 "I waited for half an hour". If the verb has an object, either repeat the verb (我学中文学了两年) or put 的 between the duration and the object (我学了两年的中文). After 没, duration goes before the verb to say how long something has NOT happened: 我三天没见他了.
句型Patterns
Subject + Verb + 了 + DurationNo object: 他睡了八个小时.Subject + Verb + Object + Verb + 了 + Duration (+ 了)Repeat the verb: 我学中文学了一年了.Subject + Verb + 了 + Duration + (的) + ObjectPut duration before noun: 我看了两个小时(的)书.Subject + Duration + 没 + Verb + 了How long since: 我很久没去北京了.
例句Examples
- 我们在机场等了两个小时。wǒ men zài jī chǎng děng le liǎng gè xiǎo shí.We waited at the airport for two hours.
- 她弹钢琴弹了十年了。tā tán gāng qín tán le shí nián le.She has been playing the piano for ten years.
- 我昨天晚上看了半个小时的电视。wǒ zuó tiān wǎn shàng kàn le bàn gè xiǎo shí de diàn shì.I watched half an hour of TV last night.
- 我已经三天没喝咖啡了。wǒ yǐ jīng sān tiān méi hē kā fēi le.I haven't had coffee for three days.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗我学了中文两年。
✓我学中文学了两年。 / 我学了两年的中文。
A normal noun object and a duration cannot both sit bare after the same verb.
-
✗我两个小时看书了。
✓我看了两个小时的书。
How long an action lasted goes after the verb, not before it.
重点词语Words in this guide
Common questions
What about pronouns like 他 or 你?
Pronouns go right after the verb, before the duration: 我等了他半个小时 "I waited for him for half an hour".